teaching or being a secretary?

Let me preface this by saying that I can not move from this town for a better job for many reasons, so I'm stuck here and need some advice - which way would you go?

I have been teaching college since 1997. I love teaching college, but I can only get part-time contract work at the local community college, which amounts to about $15,000 a year. When they hire full-time folks, they are almost always from out of state. I've been trying to get full-time employment with them for 7 years. It's not going to happen. Again, I love teaching college - BUT I don't love the way I am treated or paid as a part-timer.

I taught high school for two years, but it made me...depressed, angry, frustrated, etc. I hated it. I love the kids (mostly), but the administration and the bureaucracy made me nutty (okay, I was already nutty, but this made it a lot worse). The money was decent and my husband would like me to go back to it for a few years. The thought terrifies me. I hate dealing with the parents. There is no discipline or accountability for the students. Putting myself back there could be very harmful to my psyche. I can't look at teaching as just a job/paycheck.

Before I went to college I was a secretary, but it's been a long time so my experience is not up to date. If I could get a secretarial position in a large enough company, I think I could work my way up, but it would take time. Secretaries around here make just a tiny bit more than I'm currently making working only part time, so I'd work twice as long for the same pay.
Honestly, I would probably get bored with it too.

I'm very frustrated that I have student loan debt hanging over my head, but I can't find a position that pays enough to pay for housing, electricity, food, etc. in my field. Anyone have a fresh idea? I'm just stuck.

Ever thought of looking into a parttime job at home as a proofreader to add to your income? Just a thought.

Good luck trying to find any sort of writing, editing, proofreading jobs from home that aren't rip offs. I've tried for a long time (my area is English as well) and in many years I've only once found a "real" job, being that it actually paid money and didn't require transactions with weird companies, etc. I worked as a news editor for a political website for about 6 months. Unfortunately, the second the owner didn't have the money to pay me, I was left either to work for free and "wait it out" or quitting...I quit. And the money was paltry compared to the amount of hours I had to work.

I know you are frustrated. I did nearly the same thing as you as far as I worked for the public schools for 2 years and went nuts trying to conform to all of the insane rules...I didn't finish my master's so I cannot get an adjunct position...anyhow, I don't know. I hope it gets better.

Perpetuallysad - Thanks for the info about proofreading. You don't want to adjunct - the pay is about 60% of what full timers get for the same classes. They get $4500 per class, you get $2500. You get no benefits and you never know what or if you are teaching until 3 days before classes begin. Additionally, you have no say in what is going on in the department. No matter how long you work for a place or how good your evaluations are, you are a second class citizen.

Is there a Sylvan in your area? Not sure how much they pay.

Yoda - yes, there is a Sylvan. The pay is bad.

Hubby and I talked about this last night. I know he doesn't want to put pressure on me, but I feel so guilty about our finances because I have more earning potential than he does. I know he is feeling pressured and upset about our finances. I'm sure that he feels that I should get it together and do what is best for our family, but I just don't feel capable. I feel guilty for not being willing to teach high school again, but I'm absolutely positive that teaching high school again will destroy my soul.

So, he wants me to get a full time secretarial job and adjunct at night to make up the difference in pay. When I was in my 20s and 30s, I had enough energy, motivation and ambition to make that a feasible option, but I'm so tired already. Plus, he keeps saying that if I adjunct just one class, I'll only have to be there 3 hours a week. Like that's all there is to it! The planning and grading will take a lot more time than 3 hours a week. After all, I'm teaching 3 classes now and spending 25-30 hours a week doing it. Then he says something stupid, like... well, you already have lesson plans, so there shouldn't be much prep work. Hello!??? Each class is different, moves at a different pace and needs different lesson plans.

You say he doesn't want to pressure you, but expecting you to work 2 jobs when you are already having a mentally difficult time dealing with one is putting a lot of pressure on you. I don't have a solution, I really wish I did. I feel the same guilt as you, because we could be doing much better were I not such a freak and could hold down a job. But you are doing really well. You do have a job and regardless of his impression, even teaching one class a week is a demanding and draining experience. I know it doesn't mean much, but I think you are awesome. Its my dream to be a college professor.

Oh, I just had an idea, though it may not work for you...do you have any other higher learning institutions within a reasonable drive of your area? If so, maybe you could find another adjunct position. If you found 2 then you would obviously increase your work load, but not as much as if you worked as a secretary full time AND taught.

Also, how easy is it to get any sort of job where you live? Are there tons of sec. jobs in the paper everyday? If not, how does he figure you will just land in some fabulous paying secretarial job anyhow? I am really not trying to bash your hubby, I am sure he's wonderful, I just hate to see you "settle" when you are already struggling to find happiness in your life. I can only imagine how much sadder things will be if you are working 70 hours a week. Oh I wish I had a good idea for you. Hey, I'm going to send you a pm about a suggestion someone else gave me...

PPS - I do feel he is pressuring me. He does seem to expect more of me than I currently feel capable of achieving. I just can't be upset with him about it. I've been sad for so long, and I used to be much more vibrant and bold. I used to have dreams and hopes, but they've just been beaten out of me. I know it's hard to live with me like this. I'm certainly not the girl he married 20 years ago. Then add the financial pressure and it's just too much. I just feel bad for him.

I have been a secretary at a law firm, if you could find a good administrative job in a big company or a good firm that is secure, you could make more than you are making now but that would be full time work. I am now disabled but topped out my secretarials days as an upper end executive level secretary making $50,000. so it's possible to get a nice paycheck, it all depends if you want to go back to working full time.

There is hope! I found a full time job to apply for that is right up my alley. It's a college outreach specialist. It pays well and I'd still get to help students, which is one of my favorite parts of teaching. Keep your fingers crossed! I'm trying not to get too excited about it so that if I don't get it, I won't be so disappointed. It should take a month to actually hear anything about the position, but I'm gonna apply and nurture that tiny flame of hope!

That is wonderful news that you found this position to apply for, yeahhhh I have fingers and toes crossed for you. Let us know when you find out more. Hope they interview you soon and offer you the job.